-StateSouth
Carolina, SC
-RegionSouthern,

HAVE A FIRE ESCAPE PLAN

                            A FIRE ESCAPE PLAN
                   Jack W. Davis, Extension Safety Specialist

Many persons, especially young children, die in home fires because they make mistakes when trying to get out of a burning house. Since most people have never experienced a fire in their home, their first reaction is panic. To assure that everyone gets out of the house safely, every family should have an escape plan. Families who have an escape plan and have practiced it are less likely to panic. With an escape plan their chances of surviving a fire are increased.

The greatest number of fatal home fires occurs between midnight and 6 a.m. Thus, you should be sure that there is a working smoke detector on every level of your house and especially one outside each sleeping area. The next step is to develop an escape plan to get out of your home once the smoke detector awakens you.

The following are some guidelines for establishing an escape plan:

1. Survey the entire house to determine the best exit (primary) from each

   room, giving special attention to bedrooms.

2. Next, determine an emergency escape exit (this secondary exit is generally

   a window, and in some rooms there is only one exit--the door); for example, you may not be able to leave through the door of a bedroom if fire has broken out in the house's interior. Test the windows, screen, or storm sash to be sure they can be opened in an emergency.

3. Draw a floor plan of the house with rooms, doors, and windows identified.

   If there is more than one floor, show any ledge, roof, or deck that can be used for escape.

4. Put arrows on the plan to indicate "normal" or "emergency" exits so TWO

   ESCAPE ROUTES CAN BE PLANNED FOR EACH ROOM.

5. Decide on a common way to sound a family fire alarm, especially if smoke

   alarms are not present or if they can't be heard by everyone.

6. Decide on an OUTSIDE MEETING PLACE for the entire family so that everyone

   can be accounted for. Put this on the plan.

7. ONCE OUT OF THE HOUSE, STAY OUT.
8. Go over the ESCAPE PLAN with the entire family and PRACTICE IT at least

   twice a year.

9. POST THE FLOOR PLAN WITH ESCAPE ROUTES in a prominent place to ensure

   familiarity with it.

10. Escape from upper floor windows by using chain ladders.

    Fire professionals recommend sleeping with the bedroom door closed. When the alarm goes off, test the door for heat. If it is hot, use the emergency escape route. If it is not hot, and you think it is safe, open the door cautiously. Stay low and crawl when there is smoke and you have decided the main exit is safe. Get out fast and do not try to carry valuables or belongings. Send someone to call the fire department and check to see that everyone is safely out.

-END-

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%f TITLE;HAVE A FIRE ESCAPE PLAN
%f COLLECTION;FARM AND OPERATOR SAFETY
%f ORIGIN;South Carolina
%f DATE_INCLUDED;June 1992